Merchant Mariner's Document
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 | The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with UK and USA and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (August 2023) |
Under the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958, countries with a merchant navy (also called a merchant marine) require identifying credentials for their mariners. The Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD) or Z-card in the United States, and the Ordinary Seaman's Certificate in the United Kingdom are examples of these credentials.
United Kingdom
An Ordinary Seaman Certificate is a required
United States
The Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD), previously called a Z-Card, is a kind of
The document was created shortly after World War II ended in 1945 in order to maintain security in ports around the world when sabotage was still a major concern. Today, the document still serves this purpose, and is regarded as a proof of identity and a passport when a sailor is in a foreign country. The document has to be renewed every five years.
Prior to the early 1990s, Z-Cards were obtained free of charge and were good for life, but increased safety standards in the maritime industry sought to require all active mariners to renew these documents and constantly train to stay abreast of any advancements in their field. All applicants for a Z-Card are required to apply, take a drug test, and wait for a criminal background check to complete before receiving their documents, which can take from a few weeks to several years.
The name Z-Card comes from its early days, when a sailor's ID number always started with the letter 'Z'.
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